Itineraries

Southern Cook Islands

2 Weeks

The Cooks' Southern Group is a hop, skip and jump from Rarotonga. Even if you haven’t got much time, you should still be able to tackle the whole route in two weeks – you won’t regret it!

Start your trip with four days on Rarotonga: time enough for a stroll around the island’s capital, Avarua; a hike up the Cross-Island Track; a day’s snorkelling in Muri Lagoon; and a visit to the BCA Art Gallery. Don’t forget to check out an island night while you’re here.

Hop on a plane for the 45-minute flight to Aitutaki, then hire a scooter and explore the island. A lagoon cruise is essential, but you could also consider hiring a kayak to explore some of the deserted motu (islets) around the lagoon’s fringe.

Then it’s another short hop to ‘Atiu, where you can visit Anatakitaki, the cave of the kopeka (‘Atiuan swiftlet); sample the island’s home-grown coffee; and take an ecotour.

Wing back to Rarotonga and hop on another quick flight to Mangaia – the Pacific's oldest island – and see its extraordinary caves and vast cliffs, perhaps the most dramatic sight anywhere in the Cooks.

Itineraries

Polynesian Explorer

1 Month

With a month of island time up your sleeve, this part of Polynesia will deliver a bounty of delights. There are no direct flights between Tonga and the Cook Islands, but a short detour through Auckland in New Zealand is far from an inconvenience.

Kick things off in Apia, Samoa's capital: check out the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, explore Upolu and spend at least one night on the beach in a traditional fale (house). Take the ferry to Savai’i for cave tunnels, lava fields and white beaches, then visit the forest-engulfed Pulemelei Mound, Polynesia’s largest ancient monument.

From Apia, fly to the American Samoan capital, Pago Pago. Backed by steep mountains jagging down to green-blue Pago Pago Harbor, it's one of the most improbably scenic cities in the South Pacific. Go for a sea-kayak paddle, or hole up for a few days and work on your epic South Seas novel.

Fly back through Apia to scruffy-but-charming Nuku’alofa in the ancient Kingdom of Tonga: eyeball the Royal Palace en route to buzzy Talamahu Market. A short flight north, the Ha’apai Group offers beachy living in thatched fale, sea kayaking and kitesurfing, while the Vava’u Group delivers more sea kayaking, plus diving and sailing. A night or two bending elbows with the yachties in the bars along Neiafu's harbourfront is a night or two well spent.

Wing back into Nuku'alofa, then jag through the duty-free shops at Auckland Airport en route to the Cook Islands’ capital, Avarua, on Rarotonga. Hike the Cross-Island Track, snorkel at sublime Muri Beach, and don't miss losing a few hours wandering around Punanga Nui Market (the fruit smoothies and roast-pork rolls are a knockout!).

From Rarotonga, catch a plane to exquisite Aitutaki, where you can chill out lagoon-side for a few days. Boat-trip out to Tapuaeta’i (One Foot Island) and get your passport stamped.

From Aitutaki, further short-hop flights will deliver you to the Southern Group islands of 'Atiu, Mangaia and Ma’uke. Give them a few days each to explore the eye-popping caves and cliffs, then jet back to Rarotonga for your flight home.

Itineraries

Samoan Island Hopper

3 Weeks

Experience the best of Samoa and American Samoa.

From the Samoan capital city Apia, start your island-hopping experience with a visit to Palolo Deep Marine Reserve and the endearing Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Next, head east to seductive Lalomanu Beach, with a pit stop at Piula Cave Pool. Meander along the south coast, peeking into To Sua Ocean Trench, then take a boat out to the island of Manono.

Return to Upolu to ferry to Savai’i. Check out the wave-surging Alofaaga Blowholes, the desolate lava field and the sands at gregarious Manase.

Catch the ferry back to Upolu and return to Apia. From here, fly to Pago Pago, American Samoa's picturesque capital. Travel east to scale Mt Alava for spectacular views, then maroon yourself on Alega Beach, detouring for a close-up of Rainmaker Mountain. Wind along the coast to Au’asi and take a boat to the small, wild island of Aunu’u, before the slow ride back to Pago Pago. Alternatively, head southwest from Pago Pago to explore the pristine Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

If there’s still time, fly from Pago Pago to the island of Ofu to experience the amazing isolation of Ofu Beach – 4km of footprint-free white sand.

Itineraries

Tongan Highlights

2 Weeks

Hit the highlights of Tonga on a two-week island jaunt.

Head straight to the paradisiacal Vava’u Group, Tonga’s activities hub, either by plane or ferry. On Vava’u, clamber up the peak of Mt Talau for some awesome island views, then join a chartered or bare-boat yacht and set sail around the islands of the group. Change your anchorage each night and jump into the brine each day to snorkel and swim. A multiday guided sea-kayak tour is another superb option. Don't miss swimming into Swallows’ Cave, or experience the underwater wonder of Mariner’s Cave before moving on to idyllic islands further south. Arrange your charter to sail through the Ha’apai Group (grab a beer at Mariner's Cafe in Pangai if you do) en route to Tongatapu. Alternatively, catch a short flight back to the main island.

On Tongatapu, have a quick look around Nuku’alofa, visit the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon ('the Stonehenge of the South Pacific') and check out the Mapu’a ‘a Vaea Blowholes. Then get yourself into holiday mode by spending a day or two snorkelling, swimming and lazing around Ha’atafu Beach (a great family option).

Itineraries

Slow Boats Around Tonga

1 Month

Sure, you can fly around the Tongan island groups…but everybody does that! Boats are much more interesting.

Spend a little time pottering around Tongatapu and acclimatising to the tropics in Nuku’alofa, then ferry out to nearby ‘Eua and spend a few days hiking through the island’s lush rainforests and exploring caves and sinkholes. You’ll sometimes have to climb huge, tangled banyan trees to get out.

Once back in Nuku’alofa, clamber aboard the ferry and chug north to the coral charms and serenity of the low-lying Ha’apai Group. Shack up in a beachside fale on Uoleva for a few days, or at the other end of the cash spectrum there are a couple of wonderful resorts on Foa. If you have the inclination, charter a boat to take you out to Tofua and Kao.

If time is not your scarcest commodity, ferry on to the magical distractions of the Vava’u Group, where there's almost too much to do: sailing, diving, swimming, eating, drinking… The remote Niuas beckon a few hundred kilometres to the north – three volcanic islands where you’ll find lava fields, pristine ridges and laid-back locals (and unscheduled ferries).

Itineraries

Northern Cook Islands

1 Month

The Cooks' Northern Group is a long, long way from busy Rarotonga – it's a fantastic place to experience traditional Cook Islands culture. Only the hardiest and most intrepid of travellers ever make it out this far, but if you can surmount the logistical challenges, the rewards are sublime.

From Rarotonga you could catch a plane all the way to the Northern Group islands, but it’s astronomically expensive. The most adventurous way to get there is via inter-island freighter all the way to Manihiki, the black-pearl capital of the Cook Islands, with its tiny coral atolls and massive natural lagoon.

With a bit of luck there will be a boat moving on to isolated Rakahanga, or if it’s not stopping there, straight on to Penrhyn, where life is still lived very much along traditional lines. Back in Manihiki, boat it back to Rarotonga.

This is not the trip to take if you’ve got any time constraints! You’ll have plenty of time to get to know the islanders and practise your fishing skills – but don’t plan on going home too soon, as the next boat might not be along for a while…